Howdy, everybody! This is a quick post, and I’m sorry to have thrown it together like so, but I’m happy to share my review of Simple Gifts by Olivia Godfrey (from the Another Homewood Christmas collection).
Quick side note of interest to Christian ladies that write, Another Homewood Christmas is a collection written by the King’s Daughters’ Writing Camp Aunties. KDWC is a safe writing community that runs a couple times a year. The Aunties (A.K.A. counselors) keep us girls on track, encourage fun and spiritual growth, and provide loads of writing inspiration! All that to say, you can sign up for camp now! (Be sure to sign up before it opens October 27th. 😀)
She wasn’t sure if she should mention her observations to her mother or not.
~ Simple Gifts by Olivia Godfrey
Because what had she really observed after all?
review of Simple Gifts by Olivia Godfrey
Author: Olivia Godfrey
Genre: New Adult Contemporary
Age Rating: All ages.
Disclosure: I received this story for free from the author. The opinions that I’ve expressed are my own; I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
(4.5 rounded up – only complaint is confusing sentences, explained below. 🙂)
Review: This is a gentle but interesting story with themes and tropes of half-estranged-family, healing relationships, and Christmas! 😉 I enjoyed the characters, young-adult-sibling interactions, and the plot. It was written in simple, everyday words, but some parts were confusing because of the arrangement of sentences.
There were several em-dashes, semicolons, and unnamed subjects scattered throughout the story that made a few paragraphs difficult to follow. (An example of unnamed subjects: in a scene with four women, there was little identifying which one did/said what until later on.)
Other than that, though, it was a realistic story with a lot of heart in it. ❤ I think it’s appropriate for all ages, and would be a good introduction to the topic of family problems for younger kids. (*spoiler concerning the “half-estranged-family” trope* the estrangement comes in when Aunt Gwen left the family years ago because she didn’t fit in. She’s currently living with her niece Leah’s family in the beginning. She slowly acknowledges her issue and takes steps toward healing her wounds and the wounds she caused. *end spoiler*)
Mr. Haywood read a short word reminding them all of the history of the Moravian star—how the group credited with that particular shape used it to remind themselves to look towards a future just as bright as the one the Wise Men followed in the Bible, a symbol of the hope offered to everyone.
~ Simple Gifts by Olivia Godfrey
Great job, Auntie Olivia! 🤗💛
more about the collection
Seven stories. Seven Christmases. One Savior. One small town.
Another Homewood Christmas by Erika Mathews, Courtenay Burden, Chelsea Burden, Hannah Foster, Bethany M. Griggs, Olivia Godfrey, and Rebekah Morris launched into the world Monday, October 23rd.
You can pick up this Christian Christmas collection today on Amazon or find it on your preferred ebook store. Be sure to check it out on Goodreads, too, to boost the book’s reach. ❤
And now for the blurb. 😉
Come back home to a small-town Christmas through the ages…
From its founding to the present day, Homewood, Minnesota’s open arms always offer a shining Moravian star and a Christmas to remember. Journey with the first family to settle in Homewood as they embark from the East. Stick around when troubles threaten to turn Homewood into another ghost town. Follow a song of hope and an old violin in the aftermath of war. Sit with a hurting couple in need of a Christmas miracle to complete their family. Stay close to a young woman as she struggles to find hope in the midst of rejection. Witness an aunt learning how much family truly means. Visit with a new neighbor who isn’t sure what she is looking for.
Throughout these seven heartwarming stories, watch Christmas light and love transform even the coldest places into a little corner of heaven on earth. No matter what the season may hold, the love of God sent to earth in the form of a human baby always proves abundantly sufficient—and the Christmas stars of Homewood live to testify of His story!
You can purchase both collections by the KDWC aunties today for a special Christmas journey. ❤ Here’s the link to buy the first collection: A Homewood Christmas. (It’s set in the same town this collection is set in! You can find a few more details about both collections in this post.)
Another Homewood Christmas and A Homewood Christmas, are on my TBR list! Are they on yours, or have you already read them?
With love,
Sometimes it was the simplest gifts, if it was just baking together or long overdue conversations, that made holidays even more special and reminded you how much celebrating together can mean.
~ Simple Gifts by Olivia Godfrey
the journey to write 